Clearing the PR Pollution that Clouds Climate Science

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Make ClimateScienceWatch.Org Required Reading

If you haven't already visited - and bookmarked - www.ClimateScienceWatch.org, you should rush on over. The site is run by Rick Piltz (hear a podcast recorded at the Society of Environmental Journalists [SEJ] conference) and it keeps a sharp eye for what Washington is doing (or not doing) with the information that is generated by U.S. scientists.

A great example is Piltz's post on the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website, which Piltz says, "reveals limitations that point to continuing political interference."

No kidding. For example, the EPA "Future Climate Change" page allows that  "Increased greenhouse gas concentrations are likely to raise the Earth's average temperature, influence precipitation and some storm patterns as well as raise sea levels," but quickly adds, "The magnitude of these changes, however, is uncertain." The remainder of the page is dedicated to questioning the reliability of climate models.

You have to have some sympathy for the EPA in this scenario, even if many of its employees are clinging more desperately to their ability to pay the mortgage than they are to freedom of speech. You also have to be grateful to people like Piltz, who at a critical time have stood up, condemned the U.S. government's censorship and submitted their resignation.

Thank you, Rick, and keep up the good work.
What's next?

Nov 1, the fifth estate; climatesciencewatch notice

... And readers should remember to tune in Nov 1, at 8 pm 

http://www.climatesciencewatch.org/index.php/csw/details/cbc-the-denial-machine/

http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/history/index.html 

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Canada’s premier investigative documentary program, the fifth estate, will first air “The Denial Machine” on CBC-TV on Wednesday, November 1, at 8:00 p.m.  The program’s Web site promo says: “Call them sceptics, deniers, or naysayers. They are scientists that see themselves as keepers of the truth about global warming: that it is a theory only, not a scientific fact, some even call it a hoax. Who are they? They may be small in number, but they have rich and powerful allies—the oil industry and the U.S. government.”
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(It sounds like a good one to see - despite the tendency for CBC to hand recent news items on climate change over to interviews for 'Friends of Science', as though FOS can give the Canadian science view.) 

 

 

 

 

About the climate cover-up

About the climate cover-up

Democracy is utterly dependant upon an electorate that is accurately informed. In promoting climate change denial (and often denying their responsibility for doing so) industry has done more than endanger the environment. It has undermined democracy.

There is a vast difference between putting forth a point of view, honestly held, and intentionally sowing the seeds of confusion. Free speech does not include the right to deceive. Deception is not a point of view. And the right to disagree does not include a right to intentionally subvert the public awareness.

Although all public relations professionals are bound by a duty to not knowingly mislead the public, some have executed comprehensive campaigns of misinformation on behalf of industry clients on issues ranging from tobacco and asbestos to seat belts.

Lately, these fringe players have turned their efforts to creating confusion about climate change. This PR campaign could not be accomplished without the compliance of media as well as the assent and participation of leaders in government and business.

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